U.S. patent number 7,466,987 [Application Number 09/742,190] was granted by the patent office on 2008-12-16 for user interface for a radiotelephone.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Nokia Mobile Phones Limited. Invention is credited to Tiina Hynninen, Sanna Kaartinen, Timo Kinnunen, Tea Liukkonen-Olmiala, Risto Lustila, Jani Pirkola, Lauri Salomaki, Leena Sippola.
United States Patent |
7,466,987 |
Kinnunen , et al. |
December 16, 2008 |
User interface for a radiotelephone
Abstract
A user interface for a radiotelephone 1 is described in which
the user is able to select components from a variety of sources
including multimedia sources and the Internet. The user is then
able to combine the components in a message and furthermore edit
them to add expression to the message and to set delivery
conditions for the message. The message may be archived for later
use or immediately sent to a third party either separately or as an
attachment to another file.
Inventors: |
Kinnunen; Timo (Paavola,
FI), Salomaki; Lauri (Rovaniemi, FI),
Liukkonen-Olmiala; Tea (Jaali, FI), Hynninen;
Tiina (Ould, FI), Pirkola; Jani (Kempele,
FI), Sippola; Leena (Oulu, FI), Lustila;
Risto (Rovaniemi, FI), Kaartinen; Sanna (Oulu,
FI) |
Assignee: |
Nokia Mobile Phones Limited
(Espoo, FI)
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Family
ID: |
10867091 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/742,190 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2000 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20010021649 A1 |
Sep 13, 2001 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 24, 1999 [GB] |
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9930713.4 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/456.3;
455/456.6; 455/557; 455/566; 455/466; 455/432.1; 379/88.12;
379/88.13; 455/412.2; 455/41.2; 379/88.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M
1/7243 (20210101); H04M 1/72439 (20210101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04Q
7/20 (20060101); H04M 1/00 (20060101); H04M
1/64 (20060101); H04M 1/663 (20060101); H04B
1/38 (20060101); H04B 7/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;455/412.1,412.2,413,414.4,422.1,426.1,426.2,432.2,439,440,445,456.1,466,432.1,512.2,456.6,557,566
;709/206,207,219 ;370/428 ;379/214.01,88.11-88.13 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0 788 065 |
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Aug 1997 |
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EP |
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788065 |
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Aug 1997 |
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EP |
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0 813 161 |
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Dec 1997 |
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EP |
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WO 99/37105 |
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Jul 1999 |
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WO |
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WO 99/51048 |
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Oct 1999 |
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WO |
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99/57927 |
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Nov 1999 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Tsang; Fan
Assistant Examiner: Hashem; Lisa
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Alston & Bird LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A messaging user interface of a communication device of a
message sender, the interface being configured for: selecting a
component for inclusion in a message, selecting location conditions
under which the message is enabled to be opened by a device of a
recipient, the location conditions defining a location of the
device of the recipient of the message, wherein the recipient and
the message sender are different entities, and storing said
component as a portion of the message together with a message
header holding the location conditions under which the message is
enabled to be opened by the device of the recipient in a memory of
the communication device, the message header further including
information descriptive of content of the message and information
displayable to the recipient indicating requirements to read the
message.
2. A user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the message
includes a plurality of components and associated presentation
files.
3. A user interface as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one
component is a multimedia file.
4. A user interface as claimed claim 1, wherein the device is
configured for creating a presentation file associated with said
component, said file being stored with said message.
5. A user interface as claimed in claim 4, wherein the presentation
file contains parameters relating to size and position of a
component comprising a video image.
6. A user interface as claimed in claim 4, wherein the presentation
file contains parameters relating to a volume of a component
comprising an audio recording.
7. A user interface as claimed in claim 4, wherein the presentation
file contains parameters relating to a color and a font of a
component comprising a text string.
8. A user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user
interface is configured for formatting the message as an attachment
to a short text message.
9. A user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user
interface is configured for formatting the message as an email.
10. A user interface as claimed in claim 1, including a wireless
network interface.
11. A user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is a
radio telephone.
12. A user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the message
includes a presentation file associated with the component, and
wherein the user interface enables the sender to generate a file
corresponding to the presentation file and including parameters
relating to control, at the device of the recipient, of a speed of
playback of a video file comprising the presentation file.
13. A user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user
interface is further configured to enable the sender to
predetermine how much of the message is available to the recipient
based on the capabilities of the device of the recipient.
14. A method comprising: selecting a component for inclusion in a
message at a communication device; selecting, at a device of a
message sender, location conditions under which the message is
enabled to be opened by a device of a recipient, the location
conditions defining a location of the device of the recipient of
the message, wherein the recipient and the message sender are
different entities; and storing said component as a portion of the
message together with a message header holding the location
conditions under which the message is enabled to be opened by the
device of the recipient in a memory of the communication device,
the message header further including information descriptive of
content of the message and information displayable to the recipient
indicating requirements to read the message.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising creating a
presentation file associated with said component, and storing said
presentation file with said message.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein creating the presentation file
comprises creating a file including parameters relating to size and
position of a component comprising a video image.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein creating the presentation file
comprises creating a file including parameters relating to a volume
of a component comprising an audio recording.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein creating the presentation file
comprises creating a file including parameters relating to a color
and a font of a component comprising a text string.
19. The method of claim 14, further comprising formatting the
message as an attachment to a short text message.
20. The method of claim 14, further comprising formatting the
message as an email.
21. The method of claim 14, further comprising creating a
presentation file associated with the component, and storing the
presentation file with the message, wherein creating the
presentation file comprises creating a file including parameters
relating to control of a speed of playback of a video file
comprising the presentation file at the device of the
recipient.
22. The method of claim 14, further comprising enabling the sender
to predetermine how much of the message is available to the
recipient based on the capabilities of the device of the
recipient.
23. An apparatus comprising a processor configured to: select a
component for inclusion in a message, select location conditions
under which the message is enabled to be opened by a device of a
recipient, the location conditions defining a location of the
device of the recipient of the message, wherein the recipient and
message sender are different entities, and store said component as
a portion of the message together with a message header holding the
location conditions under which the message is enabled to be opened
by the device of the recipient in a memory of the apparatus, the
message header further including information descriptive of content
of the message, wherein the apparatus is configured to create a
presentation file associated with said component, said presentation
file being stored with said message, and wherein the presentation
file includes parameters relating to control of a speed of playback
of a video file comprising the presentation file at the device of
the recipient.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the message header further
includes information displayable to the recipient indicating
requirements to read the message.
25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the processor is further
configured to enable the sender to predetermine how much of the
message is available to the recipient based on the capabilities of
the device of the recipient.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a messaging interface for a
communication device, particularly although not exclusively a
radiotelephone handset.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The range of communication options available to users of
radiotelephone handsets is continually expanding. At present, in
addition to conventional voice communication, it is possible to
send text messages and electronic mail (email). One example of a
text messaging service is the short message service (SMS) available
under the OSM system. Additional communication methods, which are
being implemented presently or in the near future, will allow
multimedia images and audio to be transmitted between handsets.
Such information may be stored within the memory of a handset but
is more likely to be held remotely of the telephone, perhaps in a
server connected to the Internet.
The users of existing non-voice communication options are presently
constrained to a either a rather functional interface having
extremely limited delivery options or, where the handset is capable
of interacting with the internet, a much more complex interface
that can be bewildering to an inexperienced or a computer
illiterate individual. Furthermore, the manner in which a short
text message or email is displayed on the handset of a message
recipient remains outside of the control of the sender. This
limitation is not acceptable when considering the possibilities
offered by multimedia sources now available.
Thus, the present invention is intended to provide an improved user
interface which is not only intuitive to operate, but also provides
the capability necessary to allow the user to express himself or
herself to a full extent when compiling a message particularly a
message involving a range of multimedia sources.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a
communications device including a messaging user interface, the
interface including means for selecting a component for inclusion
in a message, means for selecting the conditions under which the
message may be opened and means for storing said component as a
message together with a message header holding the message delivery
conditions in a memory of the communication device.
Preferably, the message header will contain data relating to a
range of user defined conditions relating to the delivery of the
message. The message header could be stored separately of or
alternatively as part of the message. The data contained in the
header could include the time, date, and even location of the
message recipient's device. Where the recipient's device is
equipped with the necessary interface, the user, that is to say the
sender of the message, could pre-set a similar equipped device on
which the message will be opened for example, a hi-fi for an audio
component or a television monitor for a video component. In which
case, the message may also usefully contain presentation
information relating to a component of the message. This
information might include parameters relating to the size, playback
speed and positioning of a video image, for example.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a
method of creating a message on a communications device, comprising
selecting a component from a source and defining a set of
conditions for delivery of the message.
According to a yet further aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method of opening a message created in accordance with
the above method, the method comprising receiving the message,
storing the message in the communication device, analyzing the
delivery conditions and in the event that they are met opening the
message.
In order to aid in understanding the invention, a specific
embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a communication network
incorporating a communications device having a user interface in
accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a view of a menu screen of the user interface of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a view of a screen of a recipient of a multimedia message
created by the user interface of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 is a view of a further screen of the recipient of the
message created by user interface of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the FIG. 1, there is shown a communications device
such as a 25 cellular radiotelephone 1 having a link 2 via a public
land mobile network (PLMN) 3, to a public switched telephone
network (PSTN) 4 and the Internet. The device 1 is provided with an
LCD screen or display 6 made up of a plurality of lines. The
display 6 is of sufficient resolution to permit text messages and
images to be displayed thereon. The radiotelephone 1 further
includes a memory and a processor. In addition to providing the
usual functions of a mobile station within a PLMN 3, details of
which are well known in the art, the memory and processor provide a
set of tools with which messaging information, which may be as
simple as a textual message or as complex as multimedia
information, may be manipulated by a user and sent to a recipient
for subsequent display.
The basic function of the display 6 is to provide a user with
information concerning the status of the radiotelephone 1 and the
PLMN 3 of which it forms an element. As is conventional, the user
operates the radiotelephone by depressing one or more keys on a
keypad 7 in a certain sequence. However, in a non-illustrated
variant, the keys are replaced by a so-called touch sensitive
screen that permits a user to press lightly on an image generated
on the screen that corresponds to a function of the telephone 1. In
either case, the user input via the keypad 7 is interpreted by the
processor and a corresponding function is carried out.
The radiotelephone 1 is provided with an advanced user interface
based on a set of menus having a pre-defined hierarchical structure
each of which can be selected by the user of the radiotelephone 1.
Each menu contains a list of one or more options, which the user
may browse using scroll key 8 and from which specific functions are
selectable. The user interface permits the user to request the
performance of certain functions by the radiotelephone 1 which
include, but are not limited to, accessing sources, including
multimedia sources, from various locations within the a
communications network comprising the PLMN 3, PSTN 4 and the
Internet 5, in addition to the memory resource of the
radiotelephone itself.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a screen 10 which, when shown on the
display 6, presents the user with a number of options relating to
the creation of, in this example, a multimedia file. Thus, by
previously having carrying out a sequence of key presses, the user,
who for convenience is referred to as a sender, will have selected
this menu from the hierarchical structure and is then able to
browse the desired options from the set available on that menu. The
interface allows a user both to enter information in the form of
text and also to compile information gathered from a number of
locations, both within and without the radiotelephone 1, to produce
a multimedia file. Thus, in use, the sender may firstly access a
sound file held internally of the telephone 1 or perhaps externally
on the Internet 5. The sound file is stored in the multimedia file.
In the case of an Internet source file, the multimedia file may
hold simply the URL address of the sound file. Similarly, the user
may select a video image file from the Internet and store the URL
address of that file in the multimedia file. Further components of
the multimedia message file may be assembled either from internal
telephone 1 resources such as a set of pre-stored images or
external resources such as the Internet 5.
Once complied or indeed during the compilation of the multimedia
message, the user is given access through the interface to a set of
tools which permit the sender to modify, if required, the
presentation of the compiled information to a recipient. Thus, the
sender is able to modify, for example, the volume of sounds, the
speed of playback of video clips, and the position and sizes of
images of a video file as they would appear on a display of a
recipient's communications device. These parameters are stored in
the multimedia message and associated with the component to which
they relate. The multimedia message may then be archived, either
sent as an enclosure to a separate message or, indeed, sent as
message itself.
As a prerequisite to either sending the multimedia message as an
attachment or separately, the sender is given the opportunity to
select the recipient of the multimedia message either by directly
entering a telephone number or by selecting an entry in a contact
list maintained in the memory of the radiotelephone and accessed
via the interface. The sender is further given the opportunity to
set the conditions under which the multimedia message can be read
by a recipient. Thus, the sender may specify the time, date and
even location at which the message may be read. In addition, the
sender may predetermine how much of the message may be available to
the receiver depending on the capabilities of the receiver's
communication device. With respect to the conditions of time and
date, these could allow the creation of a birthday greeting
message, which would be opened only on the receiver's birthday.
A message could also be created which opened when the receiver's
device reached a specific location. A location could be defined
either in terms of a geographical position or perhaps by proximity
to a particular type of device. In the former case, the sender
could enter the specific location via a map retrieved from the
network or held within the memory of his device. The sender could
then select a location from the map or alternatively directly enter
co-ordinates. This location information could then be translated
into a specific cell site, entry into that would cause the
multimedia message to open. Alternatively, where the recipient's
communication device has access to a GPS receiver, a comparison of
the co-ordinates included with the multimedia message could be made
with those derived from the GPS receiver and the message opened at
the appropriate location. In the second case, the recipient's
device will be provided with a wireless network interface such as
Bluetooth low power radio frequency network interface such that it
could detect the presence, via a local network or piconet, of
another similarly equipped device which meets the criteria set by
the sender for opening the message. For example, the sender could
specify a wireless network interface equipped television monitor
for display of a the message. On entering a room containing such a
monitor, the receiver's device would detect the presence of the
monitor and negotiate the display of the message with the monitor
over the wireless network.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, these are illustrative of the
screen displays presented to the receiver of a message compiled in
accordance with the foregoing description. The receiver is
initially presented with a message header screen 11 (FIG. 3)
setting out details 12 of the message including warnings of any
content which may alarm or otherwise disturb the recipient such as
the presence of loud sounds and the like. The message header might
also list the requirements for reading the file. For example, the
file may contain a video clip that may be displayed on a
television. In which case both the television and the recipient's
handset would require the necessary connectivity to facilitate the
display of the clip. The header may also indicate whether the
contents of the multimedia file are embargoed and until what date.
FIG. 4 shows a screen display 13 of the multimedia file
corresponding to the header screen 11 once it has been opened by
the recipient. It should be noted that in addition to text 14 and
visual 15 components, there are links, represented by icons 16,17,
to a video clip and an audio recording, respectively.
* * * * *